I am in a really good mood right now. I feel focused and like I know what I am doing, so here’s a fun post for today: YA rom-coms to brighten up your winter because my city’s had such great weather the past three days, I feel good about this FRQ I just took, and it’s the start of the second quarter at my school. #NewBeginnings

Anway, here are 7 YA rom-coms I highly recommend. Rom-coms are my new favorite genre (it used to be fantasy but now I want more happiness in my life).

I’LL BE THE ONE by Lyla Lee

I received an ARC of this from Edelweiss, and I absolutely adore I’ll Be the One. Skye Shin is one of my favorite characters in YA contemporary.

KEYWORDS: Korean American mc, bisexual mc, K-pop, competition, cute dates

NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU by Kristina Forest

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now that i’ve found you by Kristina Forest everyone, if you’re looking for a fun summer read to soak in those days that takes place in NYC and focuses on a driven girl and a nice guy who work to find her grandma, then read this! i’m on chapter 11 and LOVE IT. i don’t own a lot of ya contemporary romance books, and i’m so happy to be getting into them. i am flying through this book. i loved i wanna be where you are and love this one because it takes place in NYC! ntify came out yesterday, and i’m so happy my bookstore had it ready to pick up (still abiding by social distancing and wearing a mask! please check out @bookcellarchicago because they’re so nice. #NowThatIveFoundYou #KristinaForest #2020Books #Book #Bookstagram #YABooks #bookstagrammer #FierceReads #FaveBooks #Reader

A post shared by @ solaceinreading_ on Aug 26, 2020 at 4:39pm PDT

Kristina Forest follows me on bookstagram, everyone!!!!!!! Authors don’t even have to do that, and I really appreciate it when they do. Anyway, I LOVE NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU!!!! It’s so good and takes place in NYC in summer.

KEYWORDS: Black mc’s, NYC summer, celebrities, running around and solving a mystery with a friend (or is he more?)

HAPPILY EVER AFTERS by Elise Bryant

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QOTD: most anticipated contemporary book of 2021? do y’all see how pretty this cover is? I love the light blue, the stickers, the cupcake, and Tessa, who is looking for romance in order to inspire her stories. I’ve been loving contemporary YA a lot more, especially since we’re getting more characters who are POC (ex. Jay in Patron Saints of Nothing). #happilyeverafters #elisebryant #book #yabooks #bookstagram #epicreads

A post shared by @ solaceinreading_ on Jul 9, 2020 at 6:25am PDT

Best rom-com of 2021, calling it now!!! Elise Bryant actually reached out and asked me if I wanted an e-ARC and she’s so generous!!!! Also, the preorder campaign is open and I highly recommend preordering HEA because it’s so awesome.

KEYWORDS: Black mc, cute dates at bakeries, LA, high school, best friend is Filipino, family matters!!!, self love

CHARMING AS A VERB by Ben Philippe

Ben Philippe also follows me, which is very nice!!! I loved Charming As A Verb because it takes place in NYC and because I love the dynamic between the mc and his friends.

KEYWORDS: Black mc, Black love interest, NYC school year, senior year of high school omg, college apps, the future is not always what you think it’ll be

the way you make me feel by Maurene Goo

Maurene Goo’s books are some of my favorite YA romances of all time. They are consistently good and all have unique characters with different motivations.

KEYWORDS: Korean American mc, summer love, working at a food truck, enemies to friends, food, travel

I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI by Sarah Kuhn

TBH, I read this a while ago so I do not remember exactly what happens. However, I have this marked as one of my favorite books of 2019. It’s very cute and I loved the atmosphere.

KEYWORDS: cute, travel, love the writing style, yes I need to re-read this

THE BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT by Tanaz Bhathena

Another book I read a while ago!! This came out in 2019 and I really enjoyed how Bhathena subverts the “bad boy” trope. It’s very cute and romantic.

KEYWORDS: subverting tropes, cute, mc has interesting motivations, yes I need to re-read this

Have you read any of these books? Any YA rom-coms by authors of color you recommend?